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Improving the performance of healthcare organisations and implementing management tools successfully depends heavily on understanding human behaviour. As a core behavioural dimension, stress affects outcomes in a variety of related decision-making and performance contexts, including resource and capacity planning. In this regard, this study proposes a human behaviour-based simulation approach for resource allocation in multi-speciality outpatient clinics. First, a stress model was developed for physicians, as the most critical resource in outpatient settings. Then, the resulting relationships were integrated into a discrete event simulation framework. To prove the relevance of our approach, we applied it to a case study conducted in a public multi-speciality outpatient clinic. Multiple "what-if" scenarios were tested and compared to the optimal exam room allocation. Findings show that, in contrast to a basic model, the proposed stress-driven model allocates effective numbers of exam rooms, setting physicians in their optimal stress zone, thereby leading to better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. This entity in adulthood is rare. The aim of our study is to evaluate therapeutic results and prognostic factors of adult medulloblastoma treated at our institute with post-operative radiotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 55 patients with medulloblastoma who underwent radiation in the department of radiation oncology of institute Salah Azaiz (Tunis) over a 18-year period (1994–2012). The surgery was total or subtotal resection in 73% of cases. Forty-eight patients received radiotherapy to the entire craniospinal axis as part of the curative treatment. The median interval from surgery to the initiation of radiotherapy was 83 days. Etoposide-cisplatin chemotherapy was only performed in metastatic patients (n = 4). The 5-years and 10-years overall survival rates were respectively 53 and 34%. The dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis was a prognostic factor. The 5-years and 10-years event-free-survival rates were 64 and 41%. Reduction in the dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis and fourth ventricular floor involvement were correlated with a worse event-free survival. Our results, compared to those of the literature, conclude that the reduction in the dose of radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis (<34 Gy) in the standard risk group of adult medulloblastoma could not be done without chemotherapy. In the high-risk group of adult medulloblastoma, radiotherapy to the cerebrospinal axis at the dose of 36 Gy with chemotherapy, is required for disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidisciplinary outpatient clinics are healthcare structures that group together a set of units dealing with patients who require a series of cares and medical examinations. They are generally characterised by very complex processes due to a high number of activities and resources and a large exchange of different types of flows between multiple stakeholders. For these organisations, the greatest challenge is providing timely cares expressed by close appointments as well as reduced lead time and homecomings. To reach this aim, we propose a systematic BPMN-VSM based process analysis approach in order to enhance efficiency. It operates in four steps: (i) modelling the Patient Care Delivery Process, (ii) mapping the Critical Patient Pathway (iii) outlining the bottlenecks and the possible causes of increased lead-times and homecomings, and (iv) identifying avenues for improvement. To assess the applicability of our approach, we conducted an action research in a Tunisian multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. The results show complementarities between the BPMN and VSM tools. Findings also reveal that the proposed approach was able to propose avenues for future improvement to remedy the identified inefficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we focus on the study of the transport of mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds (Pyrene and lead) on unsaturated soil at two different water saturations. The soil used is a mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter. The transport of solutes exhibiting different sorption characteristics under steady-state conditions at 0.3 and 0.21 volumetric water contents (VWC) of the porous medium was experimentally investigated in a column. The Thomas model and the two-site first-order approach were used for modeling the adsorption/desorption steps. As the first results, the adsorption and desorption of mono- compound show a strong fixation of the lead than for the pyrene. In addition, the coexisting pollutant tests show the decrease of the lead and pyrene adsorption on soil and the decrease in lead retention after the desorption step. Tests with lower VWC show enhancement of lead adsorption with the multipollutant condition. The model approach shows that the equilibrium condition is not appropriate for all tests even for the lead adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an Improved Extended State Observer-based Finite-Time adaptive sliding mode control, is investigated for trajectory tracking control of a wheeled mobile robot. First, a novel finite-time adaptive sliding mode control, based on the fractional power of the sliding surface, is developed to deal with the chattering problem. Moreover, this strategy improves the convergence rate by adjusting online the switching part in sliding mode control. Second, an improved Non-linear ESO is employed to reconstruct and compensate for the unknown disturbances. To complete the trajectory tracking control, the kinematic algorithm is introduced. Theoretically, the proposed control scheme converges within finite-time thanks to the Lyapunov method. Finally, numerical simulations show the efficiency of the designed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in the performance of spiral-wound reverse osmosis (SWRO) membranes is frequently due to biofouling. This study focus on qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of SWRO membrane biofouling. Bacterial counts on the different surfaces of the fouled membranes were carried out. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was performed to highlight clogging materials as well as their natures and identity. The topography of the fouled membranes and the structures of biofilms were visualized by fluorescence microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the presence of bacteria in the different SWRO membrane areas. Those strongly adhered were significantly higher than those weakly. It varied between 26 × 105 and 262 × 105 CFU m−2. However, SERS mapping showed different fouling levels and the thickness of the fouling layer was 5 µm. Microscopic imaging revealed biotic and abiotic deposits. These data can together allow better management of the seawater desalination process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme ecosystems such as hypersaline habitats are promising source of bacteria able to produce potent natural molecules. Halophilic and halotolerant bacteria associated with an unexplored dry salt lake in Algeria have been investigated. A total of 17 isolates were phenotypically characterized. Optima temperature, pH, and salt concentration for growth have been determined. Bacteria strains have been identified based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Enzymes production and antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi strains have been investigated. The results showed that isolates were assigned to three phylotypes, within eight isolates belonging to the genus Virgibacillus, eight isolates to Bacillus, and the genus Halomonas with one representative isolate. All phylotypes were able to thrive on large scales of salt, temperature and pH. In addition, the screening of extracellular enzymes showed that all the isolates were able to produce at least two enzymes. The gelatinase, and caseinase activities were the most produced. The screening of antimicrobial compounds production revealed that these strains exhibited significant activity against Gram-positive, Candida albicans, Fusarium, and Penicillium species. Finally, this biotechnological profiling and the PCA analysis have been shown that LMB3038, LMB3095, and LMB3082 were the most performant strains and present a promising source of important molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective is to study the existence and uniqueness questions for a nonlinear Volterra-Fredholm integro-differential equation, then, develop a numerical approach using the Nyström method coupled with successive approximations algorithm. A numerical example is presented to examine the efficiency of the proposed method according to the existence and uniqueness conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a fuzzy adaptive sliding mode controller (FASMC) for electrically driven wheeled mobile robot for trajectory tracking task in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances. First, a finite-time kinematic controller is developed to compute the auxiliary velocity vector. Second, the FASMC, based on the nonlinear dynamic model of the robot and its actuators, is used to guarantee the stability and the convergence of the closed-loop system. Moreover, by employing the advantages of the fuzzy logic systems, the developed controller ensures the robustness of the system against dynamic disturbances and uncertainties, the smoothness of the computing voltage against the chattering phenomenon, and the optimal convergence of the velocity and posture errors. The Lyapunov theory is used to analyse the stability of this algorithm. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed method, numerical simulations are done in the Mahlab/Simulink environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle plays a very important role in agriculture and food security in Algeria. In the present study, the genetic diversity and structure of Algerian indigenous cattle populations were evaluated by microsatellite markers. A total of 138 individuals belonging to four cattle breed populations were characterized using 22 microsatellite markers. A total of 360 alleles was detected across studied all loci. Results obtained for the mean number of alleles (16.36), expected heterozygosity (0.84) and polymorphic information content (0.82) indicated that the total analyzed populations are characterized by noticeable genetic variability. It can be said that there is a low genetic differentiation in the cattle populations studied considering obtained mean FST value (0.039). It was revealed 97.10% of the total genetic variation can be explained by genetic differences among individuals while 2.90% among populations. The structure, factorial correspondence analysis results and dendrogram showed that cattle populations studied are clustered in three groups. The present study has revealed an important knowledge about the genetic diversity and the relationship between some native cattle breeds raised in Algeria. The results showed that the breeds studied have a high genetic diversity. Moreover, it can be said that microsatellite markers used can be successfully used to determine genetic diversity and population structure in Algerian cattle breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to study the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil and carlina oxide isolated to Carlina hispanica roots. The in vitro combinatory effect of carlina oxide with BHT, EDTA and diclofenac to reduce their minimum effective dose and minimize their side effects was also tested. The essential oil obtained from the roots has been studied using GC and GC/MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using radical scavenging activity (DPPH), the β-carotene bleaching test using the BHT as a positive control, and the ferrous Iron chelating using EDTA as a positive control. The activity of anti-inflammatory was assessed by the protein denaturation method using the diclofenac as a positive control. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against six microbial strains using the Disc Diffusion Assay and the microplate method to determine the MIC. The essential oil of C. hispanica was represented mainly by an acetylenic compound carlina oxide (81.1 %) which was isolated and identified by spectroscopic 1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR methods. The results of the biological activities showed that both essential oil and carlina oxide had an interesting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power. Likewise, the combinations of positive controls with carlina oxide showed better activities with a substantial reduction in inhibitory concentrations and dose of the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories synthetics. Further studies are needed to provide these positive control combinations with carlina oxide in the pharmaceutical industry. Keyworlds: Carlina hispanica, essential oil, carlina oxide, biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a class of Kirchhoff problems as follows (1) − a + b ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 Δ u = (1 + ε K (x)) u 2 ∗ − 1 , u > 0 i n R N , where a, b>0 are given constants, ϵ is a small parameter and 2 ∗ = 2 N / (N − 2) , N ≥ 3. We first prove the nondegeneracy of positive solutions to Equation (1) when ε = 0. Then, as an application, using a perturbed argument and finite-dimensional reduction method, we prove the existence of positive solutions of Equation (1) for ϵ small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of water deficit on photochemical parameters, hydraulic properties, phytochemical composition and radical scavenging activity were studied on four Olea europaea cultivars (Chetoui, Oueslati, Jarboui and Meski). After 60 days without irrigation, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), linear electron transport rate (ETR) and quantum efficiency of PSII electron transport (ΦPSII) decreased in all cultivars. A significant decrease was observed for Jarboui and even more for Meski cultivars, reaching 0.57 and 0.24 for Fv/Fm, 1.41 and 0.65 for ETR, 0.51 and 0.23 for ΦPSII, respectively, Furthermore, water stress induced an increase in xylem vessel frequency, providing a greater security of xylem sap conduction under drought conditions. Chetoui had the highest total phenolic (37.4 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid (13.25 mg QE/g extract) contents under water stress. It had also the best antiradical activity by both DPPH and ABTS methods with antiradical activity of respectively 80.05% and 81.99%. Chetoui cultivar can be considered as the most tolerant one and we consider this cultivar very promising for cultivation in semi-arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difficulty to reproduce the measured data by a classic-theoretical calculations of mobility of nitrogen ions N + in dilute atom-gas of helium He at low temperatures T = 4.3 and 77 K mentioned in the work of Tanuma group [H. Tanuma, S. Matoba and K. Ohtsuki, Mobility of Ions in Gases, presented at the Atomic and Molecular Data Application Forum Seminar Aiming at 'Matching the Needs and Seeds of Atomic and Molecular Data' held in National Institute for Fusion Science 17–18 December 2008. <>], prompted us to try quantum calculations to minimise this failure. To do this, we have carried out the calculations of the potential-energy curves of the low lying states corresponding to the N + + He ion-atom system using the SA-CASSCF with MRCI ab initio methods including the Davidson and BSSE corrections. The transport coefficients of the N + ( 3 P) and N + ( 1 D) ions in He atom are then carefully determined with special emphasis on the behaviour of the reduced mobility with the ratio E/N of the electric field and the gas density and try to explain its observed decrease near the value E / N ∼ 10 Td. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the biomonitoring of metallic pollution generated by Jijel city and the port of Bouddis on the coast of Jijel (Algeria) using algological species algae [C. officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Ulva lactuca (Linnaeus, 1753)] as bioindicators and biomarkers, which indicated heavy metal concentrations well above international standards (USEPA) and (IAEA-392), indicating unexpected levels of metals in seawater. The bioconcentration factor calculation has shown that these algae are excluders of Cr, accumulators of (Cu, Cd and Pb) and hyperaccumulators of Zn. These algae show different responses to toxic metals, depending on station, sampling period, age and phenological stage of specimens. These algae are suitable for use in biomonitoring for metallic pollution in coastal areas by expressing a specific range of biomarkers (MTs, GST, APX, CAT, carbonyls proteins and MDA). Abbreviation Corallina officinalis - (C. officinalis) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenolic compounds in solvent extracts of Genista saharae were analyzed by Reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography equipped with photodiode array detector (RP-HPLC-PDA) technique and evaluated for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using hydrogen atoms transfer methods (DPPH, total antioxidant capacity, and reducing power assays) and single electron transfer (ABTS and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays). The antibacterial activity of extracts was tested against different strains using the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Four phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and sinapic acid), one flavonoid (quercetin), and one flavanone (naringenin) were identified with RP-HPLC. The chloroform extract exhibited antioxidant potential (IC50 = IC50 = 4.03 ± 0.0200 and 35.63 ± 1.42 µg L−1) and antibacterial activity against the bacterial stains with MICs of 20 µg mL−1. These results suggested a high contribution of quercetin and naringenin in the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractChitosan based films endowed with antibacterial features have witnessed remarkable progress as potential wound dressings. The current study aimed at appraising the effects of the molar mass of chitosan (MM) and the film casting acids on the properties of unplasticized chitosan films and plasticized MSO-embedded chitosan films in order to provide best suited film formulation as a potential candidate for wound dressing application. The prepared films were functionally characterized in terms of their qualitative assessment, thickness, density, swelling behavior, water vapor barrier, mechanical and antibacterial properties. Overall, all chitosan films displayed thickness lower than the human dermis even though thicker and denser films were produced with lactic acid. Assessment of the swelling behavior revealed that only high molar mass (HMM) chitosan films may be regarded as absorbent dressings. Moreover, unplasticized HMM lactate (HMM-LA) films furnished lower stiffness and higher percent strain break as compared to acetate films, due to the plasticizing effect of the remaining lactic acid as alluded by the FTIR analysis. Meanwhile, they provided suitable level of moisture and indicated substantial antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, the most commonly opportunistic bacteria found in infected skin wound. Plasticized chitosan films doped with MSO were significantly thicker and more permeable to water compared to unplasticized films. Furthermore, MSO significantly potentiate the antibacterial effect of chitosan-based films. Therefore, plasticized HMM-LA/MSO chitosan film flashing good swelling behavior, adequate WVTR and WVP, suitable mechanical properties and antibacterial performances substantiated to be a promising antibacterial dressing material for moderately exuding wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although first explicitly coined in Renaissance Italy, the notion of a 'balance of power' – the conduct of state actors to meet the logics of power balancing – goes back to pre-modern times. Traditionally, scholars have looked to the Punic Wars and the early modern period as early evidence for the balance. However, the ancient Near East during the second-millennium BC has received far less attention. Yet Western Asia existed as an international arena of states fully integrated in a system based on interdependence and power balancing. In the field of International Relations, systematic analyses of this phase in world history remain under-developed. Accordingly, the question of when a systemic environment for the balancing behaviour existed for the first time has been addressed less in International Relations theory where the literature leans primarily on the European experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the biological activities of Algerian algae, Sargassum vulgare, Cladostephus hirsutus and Rissoella verruculosa. Antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts and their fractions was assessed using the disc diffusion assay, the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration. Antiparasitic activity was studied in vitro against the blood stream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and the intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Ethyl acetate (EA) fractions of the three tested algae showed more potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (7–14.5 mm) and B. cereus (7–10.75 mm), MIC values ranged from 0.9375 to 7.5 mg mL−1 and MBC values > 15 mg mL−1. Concerning the antiparasitic activity, EA factions of S. vulgare (IC50 = 9.3 μg mL−1) and R. verruculosa (IC50 = 11.0 μg mL−1) were found to be more effective against T. brucei brucei, whereas the three EA fractions were little active against P. falciparum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the first attempt to describe aerobic bacilli communities in Debagh hot spring, from which 41 aerobic, thermophile, and halotolerant bacilli were isolated and selected based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that the recovered isolates belonged to four bacterial genera dominated by the genus Bacillus represented with species B. mojavensis (16), B. licheniformis (11), B. subtilis (2), B. atrophaeus (1), B.amyloliquifaciens (1), and B.pimulus (1). The genus Aeribacillus represented by the species A. pallidus (3), the genus Geobacillus represented by the species G. toebii (2), and the genus Hydrogenophilus represented by the species H. hirschii (4). While, MALDI-TOF analysis determined that isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus that contained B. licheniformis (12), B. mojavensis (6), B. subtilis (2), B. atrophaeus (1), and B. pumilus (1). Furthermore, the isolates exhibited high hydrolytic activity to casein, lecithin, tween 80, olive oil, and starch with 53.65%, 83.33%, 70.73%, 92.68%, and 56.09%, respectively. Among these isolates, 26.82% were able to hydrolyze all the substrates tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation reports the isolation, molecular identification and structure elucidation of antibacterial produced by two thermophilic spore-forming bacteria from hot spring (98 °C) of Guelma (Algeria). Morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics were carried out. The molecular identification by 16S rRNA and 16-23S rRNA ITS-PCR sequencing identified the thermophilic strains as Bacillus licheniformis with 99% of similarity with GenBank accession numbers KX100031 and KX100032. Phenotypic characterization has mentioned several differences between thermophilic isolates and Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580. The ability of the thermophilic spore- forming bacteria to produce antibacterial compounds against two multidrug resistance bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NR_0754828.1) and Staphylococcus aureus (NR_075000.1) in pure and mixed culture was investigated by Radial Diffusion Assay at 55 °C. Structural elucidation of actives compounds was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. Antibacterial potency of the thermophilic isolates might be due to the association between two phenolic compounds: 2,4-Di-tert-butyl-phenol as principal active compound and p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene as prodrugs comparing between gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of pure and mixed extract. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing production of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and 2,4-Di-tert-butyl-phenol as extremolytes compounds from thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis at 55 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new protease was isolated from the intestine of small red scorpionfish. After ammonium sulfate precipitation, the enzyme was purified to homogeneity by a two-step chromatography with 6.69% recovery and fivefold increase in specific activity. The molecular weight of the protease was about 24 kDa as estimated by size exclusion chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme optimum pH and temperature were pH 10.0 and 40°C, respectively. The protease was stable at temperatures below 40°C and over a broad pH range (8.0-11.0). The Km and Kcat values were 0.36 mmol L-1 and 1.61 s-1, respectively. Interestingly, the enzyme presented specificity for casein, egg albumin, bovine serum albumin, and gelatin with obtained degrees of hydrolysis ranging from 3.14% to 6.58%, after 2 h of hydrolysis. Moreover, gluten hydrolysate analysis confirmed protein hydrolysis and solubilization. These results suggested the potential use of the protease in the preparation of food protein hydrolysates with interesting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Previous studies have shown thatSpirulina platensisGomont (Phormidiaceae) (SP) extract has beneficial effects on many disease conditions. The putative protective effects ofSPwere investigated in diabetic rats. Objective:The current study investigates the antioxidant effects ofSPin diabetic Wistar rats. Materials and methods:Alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally administrated to induce diabetes. An aqueous suspension ofSPpowder in distillate water (10% w/v) was administrated orally by gavage (1 mL/day) for 50 days. Histopathological, biochemical and antioxidant analyses were performed. Glycemia, liver function and HOMA-IR were assessed using Spinreact and ELISA kits. Results:SPexhibited high-antioxidant activity. The IC50values of theSPaqueous extract were 70.40 and 45.69 mg/L compared to those of the standard antioxidant BHT, which were 27.97 and 19.77 mg/L, for the DPPH and ABTS tests, respectively. The diabetic animals showed a significant increase in glycaemia (from 4.05 to 4.28 g/L) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (50.17 mmol/g protein) levels. Treatment withSPsignificantly reduced glycaemia by 79% and liver function markers [glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (Alk-p)]) by 25, 36 and 20%, respectively, compared to that of the controls. There was a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (48%), total antioxidant status (43%), glutathione peroxidase (37%) and glutathione reductase (16%) in the diabetic rats treated withSP. Discussion and conclusion:These results showed thatSPhas high antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective effects in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many polluted sites are simultaneously contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. In the present study, batch and continuous column experiments were performed utilizing self-composition soil to describe the sorption behavior of two contaminants: lead (Pb2+) and pyrene (PYR). Operational conditions such as contact time, bed depth, and flow rate were optimized. The effect of soil organic matter content on the process of adsorption of both contaminants was investigated. The presence of PYR in solution at neutral pH (6.0–7.5) decreased Pb2+sorption. Similar behavior was observed for PYR in the presence of Pb2+in solution. At room temperature, batch experimental data conducted as a function of contact time were analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Results revealed that Pb2+sorption isotherms were fitted better by the Langmuir model and PYR sorption isotherms were fitted better by the Freundlich model. Column adsorption experiments were carried out at room temperature and under operating parameters (bed depth, flow rate, and initial contaminant concentration). Breakthrough curves were well fitted to the two-site first-order kinetic model with a sum of square errors less than 0.14. The Pb2+adsorption kinetic data were processed also for the Thomas model with a good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in water, sediment and tissues of fish (Cyprinus carpio and Barbus setivimensis) from November 2014 to August 2015, in order to estimate the aquatic pollution in Hammam Grouz dam, by the technique of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of heavy metals in the water and sediment were higher than the WHO standards. The calculation of Bioconcentration factor showed that all fish species studied have accumulated heavy metals in their tissues (gill, liver, muscle and kidney). The concentrations of metals in B. setivimensis were higher than those in C. carpio. The highest concentration of heavy metals was recorded in the gill while the lowest was recorded in the muscle and kidney. Our study reveals that these fish species can be used as bioindicators in the biomonitoring of metallic pollution in aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the latter half of the nineteenth century, marine biologists have recognized that many molluscs living in the Gulf of Gabès, on the southern coast of Tunisia, exhibit a number of morphological characters that set them apart from the ‘typical form or variety’ that occurs in the rest of their Mediterranean distribution area. In the family Nassariidae, local forms (varieties or subspecies) were recognized as early as 1882, but none of these is currently recognized as having taxonomical significance. We have revisited the species-level systematics of the family using an integrative approach, based on morphological, geographic and molecular evidence (COI and 28S). BesidesTritia gibbosula(not sampled by us), we delimitated seven species, three with a broad range:Tritia neritea(probably introduced),T. mutabilis(but with considerable genetic structure between localities), andT. corniculum; and four not previously recognized as valid, and which may be considered Gulf of Gabès endemics:T. lanceolata,T. tenuicosta,T. pallaryanasp. nov. andT. djerbaensissp. nov. Also,Tritia elongatais recognized as a valid species in theT. corniculumcomplex, with a distribution outside the Gulf of Gabès. It is remarkable that all have paucispiral protoconchs indicating non-planktotrophic larval development. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:069F3B3B-66E8-4C07-A974-3023924426EB [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the biomonitoring of metallic pollution in the mine of Sidi Kamber Skikda town, to determine the resistance and/or tolerance to Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu in metalliferous plants. During the period of March–May, 2015, soil and plants samples were collected from three different stations in the study area. The total heavy metal fraction was determined by ICP/MS, whereas biochemical markers were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. The results obtained showed high levels of heavy metals in soil and plants compared to international standards. The translocation factor revealed that the studied plants can transfer and/or accumulate metals in their roots or their aerial parts as a function of characteristics of each metal, soil contents and physiological role in the plant. The contents of chlorophyll, proline, total sugars and total proteins are directly influenced by changes in bioavailable contents of heavy metals. It has been found that the plants studied and biomarkers are better suited for phytoremediation and biomonitoring of heavy metals pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the first quarter of the twentieth century, colonial Algeria was marked by profound social, cultural and political tensions that were compounded by a concatenation of events triggered by the First World War. Within a context marked by the determination of settlers and the colonial administration to maintain the colonial status quo, a small group of French-educated Algerian political activists known as the Jeunes Algériens (Young Algerians) emerged onto the political scene and called for reform and for more rights for the colonised. This study examines aspects of political discourse in the colony during that period and considers how notions of temporality were invoked on both sides of the colonial divide and shaped political debate at the time. It discusses some of the ways in which history and memory as well as conceptions of Algeria’s future were conjured up, on the one hand, by French politicians, settlers and writers in ways that sustained France’s hegemonic colonial discourse, and, on the other, by the Jeunes Algériens in order to emphasise the inequity of the colonial order, seek acceptance within the French nation and foreground specific political claims and demands. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aims at investigate the regulation of ML MoS in case of asymmetrical walking induced by split-belt treadmill with various belt speed ratios. Contrary to SSD, SW remains almost unaffected: averages and standard deviation across asymmetry ratio are 139 ± 2, 138 ± 3, 136 ± 3 mm for V SB 1 sb , V SB 2 sb and V SB conf sb respectively. Single Stance Duration (SSD) for three VD and 6 asymmetry ratios. [Extracted from the article]

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Independent-roller ergometers (IREs) are commonly used to simulate the behaviour of a wheelchair propelled in a straight line. They cannot, however, simulate curvilinear propulsion. To this effect, a motorised wheelchair ergometer could be used, provided that a dynamic model of the wheelchair–user system propelled on straight and curvilinear paths (WSC) is available. In this article, we present such a WSC model, its parameter identification procedure and its prediction error. Ten healthy subjects propelled an instrumented wheelchair through a controlled path. Both IRE and WSC models estimated the rear wheels' velocities based on the users' propulsive moments. On curvilinear paths, the outward wheel shows root mean square (RMS) errors of 13% in an IRE vs 8% in a WSC. The inward wheel shows RMS errors of 21% in an IRE vs 11% in a WSC. Differences between both models are highly significant (p < 0.001). A wheelchair ergometer based on this new WSC model will be more accurate than a roller ergometer when simulating wheelchair propulsion in tight environments, where many turns are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Čebyšev type inequalities for fractional Riemann–Liouville integrals are established. Our results are based on some Montgomery identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the eve of the Algerian War—one of the most violent wars of decolonisation of the twentieth century—the Algerian nationalist movement was still led by Messali Hadj, the charismatic figure who had shaped it from its very beginnings in emigration in France in the mid-1920s. However, this movement, then known as the Mouvement pour le triomphe des libertés démocratiques (MTLD, 1946–1954), was affected by deep crises and tensions at the end of the 1940s and, at the beginning of the 1950s, by a conflict between Messali's supporters (known as the Messalists) and a younger generation of militants known as the Centralists. This conflict ultimately led to the emergence of a third nationalist force, which launched the insurrection of 1 November 1954 that marked the beginning of the Algerian War. This article explores some important aspects of the bloody internal war that opposed Messali Hadj's MNA and the FLN in France during the Algerian War and discusses some of the key political processes that led to the rapid decline of the Messalist movement in the last years of the war. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pseudomonas is a clinically significant and opportunist pathogen, usually associated in causing high mortality nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with septic shock in patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies and Pseudomonas infections. A total of 80 Pseudomonas isolates (77 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were collected from 66 patients aged 2-64 years: 52 with acute leukemia (79%), 7 with lymphoma (10·5%), and 7 with other hematologic disorders (10·5%), between 2001 and 2009. The median age of the patients was 30 years. Isolates were collected mostly from bloodstreams (45%) and skin lesions (31·5%). The median time for microbiologic documentation was 8 days (range 0-35 days) from onset of neutropenia. At least 11 patients (16·6%) had recurrent (≥2) infections. The clinical symptoms observed were skin lesions (34%), diarrhea (20%), isolated fever (18%), and respiratory symptoms (14%). The isolates tested were found resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam (43%), ceftazidime (31%), imipenem-cilastatin (26%), ciprofloxacin (25%), and amikacin (26%). Septic shock occurred in 16·2% of episodes (13/80). Crude mortality due to septic shock occurred in 19·6% of patients (13/66). The median time for response to antibiotic therapy in the remaining 80·4% of patients (53/66) was 2·5 days. Univariate analysis revealed that factors associated with septic shock were: fever for ≥3 days in patients on antibiotic therapy (P = 0·019), serum lactate >5 mmol (P = 0·05), hemoglobin level <50 g/l (P = 0·042), hypoproteinemia <50 g/l (P = 0·01), procalcitonin >10 ng/ml (P = 0·031), and hypophosphatemia (P = 0·001). Multivariate analysis revealed that hypophosphatemia (P = 0·018), hypoproteinemia (P = 0·028), and high serum lactate (P = 0·012) are significant factors, independently associated with increased risk of septic shock in patients with hematologic malignancies and Pseudomonas infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses a Flexible Aircraft Fleeting and Routing Problem, which is motivated by the Tunisian national carrier Tunis Air. A solution to this problem specifies the departure time of each flight, the subset of aircraft to be chartered or rented out, the individual aircraft assigned to each flight, as well as the sequence of flights to be flown by each aircraft. The objective is to maximize the expected total net profit, while satisfying activity constraints and long-term maintenance requirements. Tailored optimization-based heuristics are developed for solving this complex integrated problem. Computational experiments conducted on real data demonstrate that the proposed procedures are effective and robust, and significantly improve upon Tunis Air's solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has now become the most curable of all subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia. A cure rate of 75–80% can be anticipated with a combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines. In Tunisia, the ATRA era began in 1998 with the use, consecutively, of two regimens of a combination of ATRA with anthracycline and cytarabine (APL93), and without cytarabine (LPA99). From 2004, 39 patients with confirmed APL either by t(15;17) or PML/RARA were treated by the PETHEMA LPA 99 trial. The rationale of this protocol by avoiding cytarabine is to reduce death in complete remission (CR) without increasing the incidence of relapse. Thirty-three patients achieved CR (84·6%). The remaining six patients were considered as failure due to early death: three caused by differentiation syndrome (DS) and three died from central nervous system hemorrhage. Baseline blood cell count (WBC) >10 × 109/l (P=0·26) and creatinine >1·4 mg/dl (P=0·42) were not predictive of mortality. DS was observed in 11 patients (30·5%) with a median onset time of 12 days (range: 3–23 days) and median WBC of 29 × 109/L (range: 1·2 × 109–82·7 × 109/l). DS was severe in seven cases, moderate in four, and fatal in three cases. Body mass index ≥30 (P=0·044) and baseline WBC ≥20 × 109/l (P=0·025) are independent predictors of DS. The median follow-up of this study is 36 months. Thirty patients are alive in continuous complete remission; two patients died in CR from septic shock and secondary myelodysplastic syndrome respectively; one patient died 47 months after achieving two relapses. Event free survival from diagnosis was 80% and overall survival was 82%. Our results are quite acceptable and can be improved by reducing mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the interwar period, North Africans in France had established a tradition of anti-colonial political struggle and nationalism. Their political discourse was structured around a common denominator: their identity as Arabs and Muslims fighting against French colonial oppression. The Algerian anti-colonial movement, born within the structures of the French Communist Party in the mid-1920s was to distance itself slowly from the direct influence of this party. The Etoile nord-africaine developed a discourse that initially encapsulated all North Africans, but soon evolved to focus mainly on Algerian issues: the construction of a 'modern' Algerian identity and the struggle for independence. Through an analysis of El Ouma, the newspaper of the nationalist organisation, and of French colonial archives, this article explores some key aspects of the nationalist discourse of the Etoile nord-africaine (ENA) and the Parti du peuple algerien (PPA) on their relationship with the French left. It also assesses some of the ways in which international events such as the invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini's Italy and the Palestinian question were both evoked to frame their nationalist struggle within the wider anti-colonial agenda of part of the left and establish links with other anti-imperialist and nationalist organisations in France and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe sepsis defined as infection-induced organ dysfunction or hypoperfusion abnormalities predispose to septic shock and increased mortality in neutropenic setting. We aimed at determining predictors of severe sepsis in neutropenic patients. Between 1 October and 31 December 2007, 41 patients (21 with acute myeloid leukemia, 19 with acute lymphoid leukemia and one with autologous stem cell transplantation for a mantle cell lymphoma) with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (<0·5 × 109/l) lasting for more than 7 days were included in this study. The median age was 28 years (range: 3–58 years). All patients were on oral antibacterial (colistin and gentamicin) and anti-fungal (amphotericin B) prophylaxis. The first neutropenic febrile episode was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam and colistin IV; if the patient remains febrile at 48 h from the start of this first line of treatment, amphotericin B i.v. is added. Imipenem was introduced in the case of non-response and finally glycopeptides were introduced according to the IDSA criteria. Severe sepsis and septic shock are defined according to the criteria of the consensus conference of the ACCP/SCCM excluding the leukocyte count since all the patients were neutropenic. Ninety-four febrile episodes were observed: 27 microbiologically documented (28·7%), six clinically documented (6·3%) and 61 fever of unknown origin (65%). Microbiologically documented infections were: 13 Gram-negative organisms, 11 Gram-positive organisms and three combined (Gram+ and -). Clinically documented infections were pneumonia (two), neutropenic enterocolitis (one), sinuses infection (one) and cutaneous infection (two). Severe sepsis accounted for 22 febrile episodes. Factors associated with the occurrence of severe sepsis were: hypophosphatemia (<0·8 mmol/l; p=0·05, OR=3·9, 95% CI: 1·3–45·7), hypoproteinemia (<62 g/l; p=0·006, OR=4·1, 95% CI: 1·4–11·4) and non-adapted antibiotherapy at the onset of severe sepsis (p=0·019, OR=2·7, 95% CI: 1·02–7·39). However, heart rate/systolic blood pressure ratio <1·1 (p<0·001, OR=0·1, 95% CI: 0·03–0·31) and Creactive protein <80 mg (p=0·001, OR=0·14, 95% CI: 0·04–0·54) were not predictive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy has made acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) a highly curable leukemia. However, several complications are reported with this treatment the most serious and life threatening being Retinoic Acid Syndrome (RAS). We aimed at identifying factors that could predict complications caused by ATRA during induction treatment of APL. Patients: Forty-two patients with confirmed APL (by t(15;17) and/or PML/RARA) treated at our institution (University hospital of Tunis) between January 1998 and June 2006 using two consecutive protocols: European APL93 trial (24 patients) until February 2004 and Spanish PETHEMA LPA99 trial (18 patients) more recently. Induction regimen consisted of ATRA 45 mg/m2/d until CR combined to DNR 60 mg/m2/d×3+Cytarabine 200 mg/m2/d×7 (APL93) and Idarubicin 12 mg/m2 d2, 4, 6, 8 (LPA99). Prednisone (0·5 mg/kg d1–d15) was added if WBC >10×109/L to prevent RAS in LPA 99. Results: Median age was 36 yr (7–64 yr), M/F=16/26 (0·61), median WBC was 2·4×109/L (range 0·6–100×109/L). WBC >10×109/L was noted in 14 patients (33%). Additional cytogenetic abnormalities were seen in 12/42 (28%). Median body mass index (BMI=weight/height2:N 20–25) was 24 kg/m2 (range 16–40 kg/m2), BMI >30 was noted in nine patients (8F and 1M). Thirty-three patients achieved CR (78·57%):18/24 (75%) in APL93 versus 15/18 (83%) in LPA99. Nine patients (21·42%) had early death. Causes of early death were: RAS (6) and CNS hemorrhage (3). Complications due to ATRA were: RAS (10), Scrotal ulcerations (3), Sweet syndrome (2), Perineal ulcerations (1), and Pseudotumor cerebri (1). Prognostic factors for complications of ATRA (Fisher exact test) were: BMI >35 (p=0·055), induction treatment without cytarabine (LPA99 trial) (p=0·047), whereas age (p=0·74), gender (p=0·51), initial WBC (p=0·47), and additional cytogenetic abnormalities (p=0·83) were not predictive. Retinoic Acid Syndrome was more reported in patients with initial WBC >10×109/L (p=0·08). Conclusion: We found high BMI (>35) in female and treatment without Cytarabine to increase the risk of developing complications with ATRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutropenia is a major risk factor for developing a serious infection. Bacteremia still causes significant mortality among neutropenic patients with cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for septic shock and for mortality in neutropenic patients with leukemia and bacteremia. Consecutive samples from 20 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and bacteremia were studied during a 1 year period (January-December 2003). All patients received empirical antibiotic therapies for febrile episodes using ceftazidime plus amikacin. About 110 neutropenic febrile episodes were noted: clinically documented 14.54%, microbiologically documented 16.36% and fever of unknown origin 69.09%. Gram-negative organism caused eight febrile episodes: Pseudomonas (5), Klebsiella (3). Gram-positive organism caused 10 episodes: Staphylococcus (6), Streptococci (2), Enterococci (2). Pulmonary infection accounted for 25% of clinically documented infections. About 14 of the 110 febrile episodes were associated with septic shock causing mortality in 7 patients. In a univariate analysis variables associated with septic shock were: pulmonary infection (OR = 17, p = 0.001), serum bicarbonate < 17 mmol/l (OR = 68, p < 0.001) and serum lactate >3 mmol/l (OR = 62, p < 0.001). Variables associated with mortality were: pulmonary infection (OR = 83, p < 0.001) and serum bicarbonate < 17 mmol/l (OR = 61, p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis two variables were associated with septic shock: pulmonary infection (OR = 5, p = 0.043) and serum lactate >3 mmol/l (OR = 10, p = 0.003). An elevated serum lactate (>3 mmol/l) and low serum bicarbonate ( < 17 mmol/l) at the onset of bacteremia are useful biomarkers in predicting septic shock and mortality in neutropenic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information related to the access of Turkey in the European Union. After four decades of strenuous attempts, the country finally managed to secure an agreement with the commission to open membership negotiations on October 4, 2005. Abdullah Gül, the Turkish foreign minister, hailed the decision taken in Brussels, Belgium as a historic moment.

This article explores some key aspects of the actions and discourses of the Arab Workers Movement (le Mouvement des Travailleurs Arabes, MTA), a revolutionary political organization established by North African immigrants in 1970s France. The paper looks at some of the ways in which the MTA's discourses on the workplace, in the foyers and on illegal immigrants' rights were constructed. Second, it examines the cross-ethnic links of solidarity that this movement established with other immigrants' groups and organizations in France. Finally, the paper looks at the often antagonistic, but sometimes close relationship between the movement and the French trade unions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If the Algerian war of independence (1954–1962) is perceived by many observers as one of the bloodiest anti-colonial struggles of the twentieth century, the last decade has been marked by the deepening crisis which has dragged Algeria into a violent civil war (‘la deuxième guerre d'Algérie’) and by a sense that the Algerian nation is still in a process of formation. This article aims to go back to the origin of modern Algerian nationalism and explore some of the ways in which Algerian national identity was constructed in the discourse of Algerian nationalists in the inter-war period in France. It highlights three key processes which shaped Algerian ethno-national identity: firstly, an emphasis on difference and on the irreconcilability of North African Muslims' identity with Frenchness (and therefore a rejection of France's assimilationist claims); secondly, strong references to French democratic and revolutionary principles, and to Islam as underpinning the Algerian nationalist project; and finally the essentialising of North Africans' ethnicity and an emphasis on Algerian Muslims' Arabness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, conventional 3D inverse dynamic models are limited in three aspects related to inverse dynamic notation, body segment parameters and kinematic formalism. First, conventional notation yields separate computations of the forces and moments with successive coordinate system transformations. Secondly, the way conventional body segment parameters are defined is based on the assumption that the inertia tensor is principal and the centre of mass is located between the proximal and distal ends. Thirdly, the conventional kinematic formalism uses Euler or Cardanic angles that are sequence-dependent and suffer from singularities. In order to overcome these limitations, this paper presents a new generic method for inverse dynamics. This generic method is based on wrench notation for inverse dynamics, a general definition of body segment parameters and quaternion algebra for the kinematic formalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of an algorithm-based optimization to determine the optimal position of the cameras for motion capturing. Topics discussed include advantage of developed algorithms such as reduction in the number of cameras, calculation of acquisition volume and simulation of performance gains with developed algorithm.

An abstract of the article "Optimisation technique of camera placement for motion capture simulations," by A. Aissaoui and colleagues is presented.